Norway just protected its largest marine sanctuary — whales included

On September 18, Norway established the Andfjorden Marine Protected Area — about 714 square miles, roughly 260,000 football pitches — making it the country's largest. The waters shelter coral reefs, kelp forests, spawning grounds, abundant fish, whales, and seabirds, and will be co-managed by municipalities, county authorities, and the Sámi Parliament. It lifts Norway's protected territorial waters from about 4.8 to 6 percent.